The Stroller, Nov. 27, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Count your blessings this...
Westmoreland happenings: Christmas house tour, meetings, more
Fundraisers • St. Stephen Orthodox Church, Unity, is accepting orders for its Christmas kolaci roll sale. Varieties: nut, apricot and poppyseed. Cost: $15. Order deadline: Dec. 3. Pickup: 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 and 20 at the church, 1520 Susan Drive. Orders: Cathy, 724-537-7238, or Brigette, 724-836-0930. • Westmoreland...
Firefighters battle blaze, hoarding at New Kensington home
Fire crews spent about three hours Wednesday battling a blaze at a home in the 40 Acres neighborhood of New Kensington that had heavy hoarding conditions, according to city Fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. Volunteer fire departments from numerous Alle-Kiski Valley towns — including New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell, Plum...
Round of grants to benefit multiple North Hills communities
Multiple communities in the North Hills are getting a boost from a recent round of state grants. A $106,000 grant will support the chassis replacement of an ambulance from the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority. The total cost of the chassis replacement, also known as an ambulance remount, is $225,000, according...
A.W. Beattie students turn Thanksgiving parade into schoolwide event benefiting North Hills Community Outreach
Giving thanks and giving back to those in need were the themes of a student-led Thanksgiving parade at A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless. It also was a special treat for the preschoolers of Beattie’s Kiddie Tech program, who got to march in the parade around the school. While the...
Crash on Route 30 in North Huntingdon occurred after undercover drug buy
A crash on Route 30 in North Huntingdon on Monday evening apparently was connected to an attempt by police to arrest a man who they say sold drugs to an undercover officer, according to court papers. The undercover officer requested 10 “bricks” of heroin/fentanyl from Demiyr T. Johnson, 27, in...
Monroeville Historical Society keeps holiday tradition alive at Old Stone Church
A 54-year-old tradition continues in Monroeville. The annual tree-lighting celebration and holiday concert, hosted by the Monroeville Historical Society at the Old Stone Church, officially ushered in the season Nov. 25. “The first event was held in 1969, but years 2020 and 2021 were unfortunately missed due to the covid...
UPMC has not turned over transgender patient records to the Justice Department
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has not turned over to the federal government any information requested in a subpoena filed this year related to its treatment of transgender patients. That information was revealed Tuesday in a filing in federal court. “We are pleased to learn that UPMC has not turned...
Gateway School Board examines expenses, approves new clubs as 3 directors end their terms
At the Gateway School Board meeting Nov. 24, directors voted on a recommendation to update the business manager’s contract with the district, which would cost an additional $10,000 from Dec. 1 through July 31, 2026. Director Robin Mungo expressed concern over the pay increase, while Director Jack Bova noted Mike...
Hampton students take the reins for successful fall production of ‘Death by Chocolate’
On a stage drenched in blue light, a figure sits at a desk, struggling against their binds. A bookcase slides silently aside to reveal a hand holding a gun, protruding from the darkness of a secret room. A shot rings out and the struggling figure slumps over. Michael Petrucci, a...
Thanksgiving food prep more than a meal for Gateway’s family/consumer sciences students
The family and consumer sciences program at Gateway High School was busy the week leading up to Thanksgiving — just not with their usual cooking classes. Teacher Jamee Kovacs and her students were tasked with preparing Thanksgiving dinners for 15 area families, for a total of 50 dinners. “This is...
Norwin area: Christmas tree sale, toy drive, book sale, more
Scouts to sell Christmas trees Boy Scout Troop 284 of Irwin will be selling live Christmas trees at the Busy Beaver store parking lot at the Norwin Hills Shopping Center. The tree sale will be from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13; and...
Pittsburgh police officer on leave after assault charge in connection with domestic dispute
A Pittsburgh police officer was placed on administrative leave after he allegedly pushed his wife during a late-night domestic dispute over the weekend outside his Dormont home, authorities said Wednesday. But Officer Adam Thomas Germeyer’s attorney maintains her client is innocent — and stressed that women at the scene that...
Former Arnold police chief Eric Doutt waives hearing regarding drug charges in Armstrong County
Eric Doutt, a former Arnold police chief, is awaiting another court date after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Armstrong County on several felony charges. Doutt, 56, of Arnold was arrested Nov. 13 in connection with a drug investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office. He was...
Murrysville area: East End Kids’ breakfast, Symphony East, ‘Santa at Sardis’ and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Holiday-themed events Here is a list of holiday-themed concerts and events taking place in December: Dec. 5: Light Up Export. Borough officials will host the annual event from 6-9 p.m. along Washington Avenue. As in years past, the evening will include a...
Chipotle eyes Irwin site for new restaurant
Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle plans to open a new eatery in Irwin. The Irwin Planning Commission is scheduled to review a land development plan at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 that Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has filed with the borough for a restaurant at 9174 Route 30 where Denny’s is currently...
Pittsburgh investment manager charged with wire fraud, accused of diverting $3.7M
A Pittsburgh investment manager was charged in federal court on Tuesday with wire fraud, accused of diverting more than $3 million from a family’s investment fund. Thomas R. Pipich Jr. faces one count of wire fraud. He was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office via criminal information, which typically means...
Slippery Rock to grow program that gives college, work experience to students with intellectual disabilities
Slippery Rock University is expanding its “Rock Life” program, a four-year, non-degree program for students with intellectual disabilities. The federal government awarded Slippery Rock $300,000 over the next five years for the program. The money will be used to hire more staff and grow vocational and other campus school and...
Man charged in Latrobe slaying has history of violence against womenVideo
A man with a history of violence toward women was arrested Wednesday on police accusations that he killed a Latrobe woman in her apartment. Latrobe police and Westmoreland County detectives believe Glenn James Whittier, 54, stabbed Pamela Puskar in her Loyalhanna Apartments home and left her to bleed to death...
Leechburg Area among 4 districts suing state’s largest cyber school for tuition costs
Leechburg Area is among four school districts that have filed a lawsuit against the state’s largest cyber charter school asking that tuition be dropped for local students. The suit claims Commonwealth Charter Academy, as well as the state Department of Education through lack of sufficient oversight, fails to provide students...
Westmoreland County Housing Authority plans to lease former state prison property for solar power project
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority is hoping to save millions of dollars in energy costs over the next 25 years with two solar power projects that would benefit Hempfield Towers and a warehouse, officials said. The housing authority plans to have a $2.28 million solar power array on as many...
Paving project bumps New Kensington budget to $12.4M; taxes hold steady
Property taxes will not change under New Kensington’s $12.4 million budget for next year. Council this week approved the city’s budget in a 4-0 vote, with Todd Mentecki absent, said City Clerk John Zavadak. The property tax remains at 32.02 mills. A property assessed at the city’s median value of...
13 employees furloughed from PennWest University
Thirteen union employees at Pennsylvania Western University’s California and Clarion campuses were furloughed last week, a university spokeswoman confirmed. “Thirteen AFSCME employees were furloughed,” said Wendy Mackall, a spokeswoman for PennWest. “PennWest is proud to support 1,571 employees across our campuses and to serve as a significant economic driver for...
Morning Roundup: Shooting in Mt. Oliver; tractor-trailer overturns on I-70; patrol stats released
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 26: Police investigate Mt. Oliver shooting Allegheny County Police have opened an investigation after being called to the scene of a shooting early Wednesday morning. Police said the were called to the 300 block of Onyx Avenue...
The Stroller, Nov. 26, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Opportunities available to help...
